Chestnut-breasted Malkoha
Rhamphococcyx curvirostis singularis
Meat Tenderizer
Chestnut-breasted malkohas are omnivores and eat a large variety of food, including insects and small rodents. If they find a food item that is too large to swallow, they will tenderize it by smashing it against a perch to break off pieces and make it easier to eat.
Chill Out
Chestnut-breasted malkohas are very vocal, but they can be secretive as well. Hiding in dense forests, they prefer to hop from branch to branch to get around, as opposed to flying. They can sit still for a long periods of time to avoid being detected by predators.
Good Parents
Chestnut-breasted malkohas are part of the cuckoo family of birds. Unlike most cuckoos that lay eggs in the nests of other birds and allow them to raise the chicks, chestnut-breasted malkohas are dedicated parents. Though only briefly — it only takes about three weeks from when eggs are laid to when the chicks fly from the nests. This is less than half the typical time for a bird of their size!
Diet: lizards, frogs, baby birds, invertebrates, small crabs
Zoo Diet: specialized carnivore diet, whole prey/mice, invertebrates
Habitat: rainforests
Length: 17–19 in
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